Katinka Hosszu (HUN) was obviously inspired by watching Mary Descenza (USA) knock 3sec off her best to set a world record of 2:04.14 in the heats of the 200m butterfly. The Hungarian X-glided her way into lane 4 in 2:04.27, that's a European record and third best ever, behind Decsenza and Olympic champion Liu Zige, back on sixth but through safely on 2:05.29. Hosszu's best in 2008: 2:14.56.

That was good enough for 204th in the world. No point in looking where than ranked all-time: wouldn't want the database to die searching.The winning time in Melbourne 2007 would have finished 13th but defending champ Jess Schipper (AUS) also had a Hydrofoil this time round, so no surprise to see a very sharp edge to all that work that's gone in: 2:04.87, just 0.04sec shy of the Commonwealth record set by Ellen Gandy back at Brit trials in March. Gandy was back in 15th and out on 2:08.85 this time round.

Rome 2009:

Top 8 through: 2:04.27 - 2:06.85

Inside 2:05: 4

Inside 2:06: 7

Inside 2:07: 8

Melbourne 2009:

Top 8 through: 2:07.71-2:09.21

Inside 2:05: 0

Inside 2:06: 0

Inside 2:07: 0

Inside 2:08: 1

Inside 2:09: 5

Inside 2:10: 9

The difference in two years is stunning.

Men's 200m medley semi-final

Olympic podium rivals Ryan Lochte (USA) and Laszlo Cseh (HUN) led the way into the final of the 200m medley ahead of another 3-second 200m improver, Leith Brodie, who came here the slower side of Ian Thorpe's Aussie record of 1:59 plus, took a stick to that in heats and beat it to death in the semi with a 1:56.75 Commonwealth record. Next through on a Brit record, James Goddard, on 1:57.12. Two others challenged the 1:57 mark. The race saw Cseh in an X-Glide improve 1.3sec on his Olympic silver medal winning effort within a week of having to be rehydrated at a Rome hospital after a stomach bug laid him low on the way from Budapest. Brodie and Goddard also made fresh impacts on the all-time top 10.